Gene and Judes

The greatest hot dog stand in the world serves neither hamburgers, nor polish sausage, nor grilled chicken sandwiches. There is no grill, no char-broiler, no spinning mound of gyros. At the greatest hot dog stand they only need buckets of simmering water for dogs, steamers for steaming buns and Supreme tamales and ever bubbling vats of oil for the fresh cut fries.



You can see the greatest hot dog from far up the street. Beecause the greatest hot dog stand is all glass and harsh flouresant lights and stands as a beacon for all who are hungry. If you see a line, you know it will move fast.



The greatest hot dog stand follows few of the rules laid out by the experts. Their buns are poppy-seedless. They offer few condiments beyond mustard (no ketchup on site). They do not dust their dog with celary salt. Yes, it is a Vienna sausage, but a skinnyish one at that. You really need to eat more than one at the greatest hot dog stand in the world, and many of the customers do (Sample customer, "I'll take seven hot dogs and an [extra] order of fries).



The cooks at the greatest hot dog stand in the world occupy their time in between orders by thrusting fresh idaho potatos through a machine that converts them into perfect sized french fries. These amazing sticks of pure pototo get tossed on top of each offering so that if you want to eat them inside your hot dog bun, well you can and maybe should.



The greatest hot dog stand in the world is a throwback to a world when people ate hot dogs. A throwback to a time when a great stand could keep their buns steamed just right, and their red hots, hot but not limp. So a Gene and Jude hot dog snaps right back at you. Interactive eating. With a side of hot fries, you will know you are at the greatest hot dog stand in the world.



Gene and Judes

2720 River Road

River Grove, IL 60171-1325

708-452-7634



On the corner of River Road and Grand

Chicago Hot Dog Origin....

The "Chicago Style" hot dog got its start from street cart hot dog vendors during the hard times of the Great Depression. Money was scarce, but business was booming for these entrepreneurs who offered a delicious hot meal on a bun for only a nickel. The famous Chicago Style Hot Dog was born! They'd start with a Vienna Beef hot dog, nestle it in a steamed poppy seed bun and cover it with a wonderful combination of toppings: yellow mustard, bright green relish, fresh chopped onions, juicy red tomato wedges, a kosher-style pickle spear, a couple of spicy sport peppers and finally, a dash of celery salt. This unique hot dog creation with a "salad on top" and its memorable interplay of hot and cold, crisp and soft, sharp and smooth, became America's original fast food and a true Chicago institution.

Portillo's

Portillo's Hot Dogs

The best food and the best service!



Welcome to Portillo's Hot Dogs, Inc., started in 1963 by Dick Portillo in a small trailer and soon will be operating in 31 locations. His dedication to serving "the best food" and "the best service" available will make it worth your visit. Requests for his "type" of food and "service" are received daily at the corporate office from many of the 50 states (including Alaska) and many foreign countries. Calls from Taiwan, the Phillipines, Singapore, China, Europe, and Korea are just a few. Customers in the Chicagoland area also call frequently requesting a store just "a little closer to our house."



So, come enjoy what we hope you will find to be the best Hot Dog, Italian Beef, Maxwell Street Polish, Tasty Burgers, Fresh Salads and more at any of our locations. Bring the kids and ENJOY!



Portillo's won so many Silver Platter awards (the "Oscars" of the food industry) that the company retired from competition for 5 years to give others a chance. Come try our award-winning food and see if you agree.

Vienna Beef Factory and Store

2501 N. Damen Ave., Chicago, IL 60647. 773-235-6652.

http://www.viennabeef.com



The Damen St. location is the lunch room/deli for the meat plant, but it is open to the public, and if you're into Chicago Hot Dogs, visiting The Source is as obligatory as a trip to Napa for wine lovers. Not surprisingly the sandwich is made by the book, although I was a bit stunned to see a crinkle-cut 4" slice of pickle rather than a spear on my bun. Even their own website says it should be made with a spear. The decor is clean, and the posters are great fun. My favorite: A photo of a Chicago Hot Dog with the caption "This Hot Dog Rated NK-17. It will not be served with Ketchup to anyone under 17." They sell the posters, condiments, and meat products to take home. They even sell a Hot Dog Lovers Kit for $69.95 with 16 hot dogs, 16 poppyseed buns, mustard, relish, sport peppers, and celery salt. You need to get your own onion, pickles, and tomatoes. It's a fun place and dining with butchers in coveralls and hairnets is kinda cool, but, with its mustard yellow walls, and fluorescent lights it has all the charm or a high school cafeteria.

Congrats Chicago Blackhawks

I would like to take the time to congratulate the Chicago  Blackhawks on  making it to the Stanley Cup Finals after they swept  the San Jose Sharks with a 4-2 win at the United  Center earlier this afternoon. Just four  more wins and they will become  Champions for the first time since 1961  and for the fourth time in  their history. They are a young team that  plays like a veteran squad,  and whether they meet up with the Montreal  Canadiens  or the Philadelphia Flyers from the East, they are my  pick to  win Lord Stanley's mug. To me, they just do not seem like they  can be  stopped.

Chicago Cubs #1 Ballpark Hot dog !

Cubs 1st -- in MLB Best Hot Dog poll


OK so the Cubs may not measure up to some teams when it comes to actually winning World Series championships. Big whoop. But when it comes to delivering a delicious wiener, the Cub's came in first place -- tied with those show offy New York Yankees, according to a recent online poll. As part of National Hot Dog Month, the National Hot Dog & Sausage Council asked folks to vote for their favorite Major League Baseball stadium hot dog and Wrigley Field (yes, along with Yankee Stadium) grabbed first place as serving the best hot dog in all MLB ballparks.

But what exactly is a Wrigley Field dog? The park offers Best Kosher and Ball Park Franks hot dogs (wow, not hometown Vienna Beef?) steamed, boiled and grilled with toppings that range from grilled onions to the classic Chicago condiments -- minus the tomatoes lately.